Polemonium plant named ‘Touch of Class’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Polemonium  plant, ‘Touch of Class’, characterized by its mound of white and green variegated leaves and its abundance of light violet flowers emerging in late spring to early summer.

Botanical classification: Polemonium reptans.

Variety denomination: ‘Touch of Class’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPolemonium plant, botanically known as Polemonium reptans ‘Touch ofClass’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘Touchof Class’. The new cultivar of Polemonium is a hardy herbaceousperennial grown for landscape use.

‘Touch of Class’ was discovered in April of 2005 as a naturallyoccurring branch mutation of Polemonium reptans ‘Stairway to Heaven’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,187) in a container in his nursery inKensington, Conn.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by invitro propagation in June of 2005 in Kensington, Conn. Propagation bydivision and tissue culture has determined the characteristics to bestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes incombination distinguish ‘Touch of Class’ as a unique cultivar ofPolemonium.

-   -   1. ‘Touch of Class’ exhibits foliage that is variegated with        green and white. Leaves with green centers and white margins are        typical while some leaves are pure white or with a small patch        of green. An intermediate grey green color is occasionally        present    -   2. ‘Touch of Class’ exhibits an abundance of light violet        colored flowers from late April to early June in Connecticut.

In comparison to the parent plant, ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Touch ofClass’ is similar in plant habit and in having similar variegatedfoliage, however ‘Touch of Class’ exhibits a greater number of flowers,blooms longer and the leaf variegation of ‘Touch of Class’ is white andgreen whereas the variegation of ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is green, whiteand yellow. The species, Polemonium reptans, has foliage that isnon-variegated. There are other known Polemonium cultivars withvariegated foliage, however they are cultivars of Polemonium caeruleum,a taller species with a more upright plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Polemonium. The photograph inFIG. 1 was taken of two year-old plants as grown outdoors in one galloncontainers Kensington, Conn. The photograph in FIG. 2 shows a close upof the foliage on six month-old plants that were greenhouse grown inKensington, Conn. from plugs derived from tissue culture. The colors inthe photograph are as close as possible with the photographic andprinting technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailedbotanical description accurately describe the colors of the newPolemonium.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of two year old plants of thenew cultivar as grown outdoors in for Kensington, Conn. The phenotype ofthe new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance withthe 2001 RHS Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society, London,England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: ‘Touch of Class’ is a cultivar of    Polemonium reptans.-   Parentage: Naturally occurring branch mutation of Polemonium reptans    ‘Stairway to Heaven’.-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—About 4 weeks between late April to early            June in Kensington, Conn.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, mounded, flowering stems            emerging from basal leaves.        -   Height and spread.—Matures to 30 to 40 cm in height and 35            to 45 cm in width.        -   Hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zones 3 to 9.        -   Culture.—Performs best in soils with adequate moisture and            fertility in partial shade; new foliage is continuously            produced until frost.        -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to            diseases or pests has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fleshy to fibrous emerging from rhizomes.        -   Propagation.—Rhizome division and tissue culture.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous and reliable perennial.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Compound, odd-pinnate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Basal and opposite to slightly opposite on            cauline leaves.        -   Leaf shape.—Oblanceolate in outline (both basal and cauline            leaves).        -   Leaf size.—Basal leaves range from 15 to 25 cm in length and            5 to 10 cm in width and cauline leaves are an average of 7            in length and 2.5 cm in width.        -   Leaflet number.—Average of 12 per basal leaves and 5 on            cauline leaves.        -   Leaflet base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaflet apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Leaflet margin.—Entire.        -   Leaflet venation.—Tri-nerved, matched leaflet color.        -   Leaflet surface.—Glabrous on upper surface and glabrous to            pubescent on lower surface.        -   Leaflet internode length.—Average of 1.6 cm.        -   Leaflet variegation pattern.—Typically green centers with a            white margin with margin ranging from 1 to 4 mm, on mature            leaves an intermediate area is blended into the margin and            center with an irregular pattern, less frequently            (especially on lower leaves) the leaves are all white or            with a narrow center spot of green.        -   Leaflet color.—Newly formed and mature basal foliage upper            surface; 137B with margin and all white leaves 155B and            intermediate areas 138B, newly formed and mature basal            foliage lower surface; 138B with margin and all white leaves            155B, newly formed and mature cauline foliage upper surface;            137B with margin and all white leaves 155B and intermediate            areas 138B, newly formed and mature cauline foliage lower            surface; 138B with margin and all white leaves 155B.        -   Leaflet size.—Basal leaves; up to 5.5 cm in length and 2.2            cm in width, cauline leaves; up to 2.5 cm in length and 1.5            cm in width.        -   Rachis.—Up to 21 cm in length including petiole with an            average width of 2 mm, upper surface is concave, texture is            glabrous, 144A in color.        -   Petiole.—Average of 8 cm in length and 3 mm in length, 144A            in color.        -   Foliage fragrance.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Corymbs of 4 to 7 bell-shaped flowers            with an average of 3 corymbs per stem.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 4 weeks from first            opening bloom to fading of last opening bloom, individual            blooms last about one week.        -   Flower shape.—Bell-shaped.        -   Flower number.—Average of 20 per flowering stem.        -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Conical in shape, about 6 mm in length and 3 mm            in diameter, color N155B with shading of 76A (esp. near            apex) and stripes of 138B.        -   Flower size.—About 1.2 cm in length and about 1.5 cm in            diameter.        -   Peduncles.—1 to 2.5 cm in length and about 0.7 mm in width,            138B in color, glabrous surface.        -   Petioles.—Up to 7 mm in length and about 0.5 mm in width,            138A in color, surface texture is glabrous and slightly            shiny.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate, comprised of 5 partially fused sepals,            about 9 mm in length and 4 mm in width, persistent.        -   Sepals.—5, 9 mm in length and 2 mm in width, 155A in color            with stripes of 138B, glabrous surface, base fused on lower            half, attenuate apex, entire margin.        -   Corolla form.—Rotate.        -   Petals.—Oblanceolate in shape, margin entire and slightly            dentate near apex, rounded apex, truncate base, color 91B to            91D becoming lighter and translucent near base, glabrous            surface.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, style is about 1 cm in length, 0.3 mm            in width and 155C in color, stigma is tri-fid with arms            reflexed and 155C in color, ovary is superior, compound,            globose in shape, 138C in color.        -   Androecium.—5 stamens, filament is 155C in color, 8 mm in            length, 0.3 mm in width, base is adnate to petals, anthers            are 1 mm in length and width, attachment is basifixed,            translucent and 145C in color, pollen not visible.        -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the            conditions tested.

1. A new and distinct variety of Polemonium plant designated ‘Touch ofClass’ as described and illustrated herein.